McAdoo ready to 'evolve' in first camp without Coughlin

Ben McAdoo made it clear right away with his “evolution, not revolution’’ mission statement: He is not tearing up everything associated with the former head coach as the Giants begin a season for the first time in 13 years without Tom Coughlin.

When asked about the clocks in the team facility — which for a dozen years famously had been set five minutes fast — McAdoo sounded proud to declare: “We remain on TC time.’’

For the most part, though, TC time is at an end. Head-coaching upheaval in the NFL is serious business and always ushers in widespread change. Yes, McAdoo ran Coughlin’s offense the past two years and the defensive (Steve Spagnuolo) and special teams (Tom Quinn) coordinators from last season also return, as do a handful of other Coughlin assistants. Starting slowly in the spring and kicking in Thursday when players report, the alterations will become even more apparent as McAdoo ushers in his first training camp as the man in charge.

McAdoo recently turned 39, and he is all about relating to the millennial generation that fills his roster. Camp practices have been moved to the morning. The specific work periods are expected to be more concise and run more briskly, in deference to the shorter attention spans of 20-somethings. McAdoo will focus on limiting injuries — an unrelenting obstacle in Coughlin’s latter years — and adopt even more forcefully the advanced medical data introduced the past few years.

Optimism is rampant around the Giants, recent history notwithstanding. McAdoo’s two years on the scene produced matching 6-10 records. The Giants were 19-29 the past three seasons, finished in third place in the NFC East all three years and have not made the playoffs in four consecutive years. Say what you will about the unfairness of ownership showing Coughlin the door, but the last Giants head coach to fail to qualify for the playoffs four consecutive seasons was Alex Webster, who lasted five years (1969-1973) without making the playoffs.

After the spring preparation, McAdoo said: “We have a lot of positive energy and the guys seem excited. I feel like we have a chance to build a pretty strong team.’’

The Giants assemble for camp with no controversies looming, no holdouts to worry about, continuity on offense — nine of the 11 starters could be the same — and encouraging vibes about the health of their roster. Receiver Victor Cruz is expected to take the field for Friday’s first practice, though the medical staff will not overwork him. Cruz is coming off knee and calf surgeries that caused him to miss the last 10 games in 2014 and the entire 2015 season. Several newcomers with burgeoning bank accounts — courtesy of a rare free-agency spending spree — are on the spot. Three bigticket imports — Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins and Damon “Snacks’’ Harrison — were signed to rejuvenate a terrible defense that finished last in the NFL in 2015. Within the rookie pool, first-round pick Eli Apple might not be able to crack the lineup at cornerback immediately, but second-round pick Sterling Shepard and thirdrounder Darian Thompson will challenge for starting jobs at receiver and free safety, respectively.

Lest we forget, Eli Manning embarks on his 13th training camp, 35 years old and going to work for the first time in his NFL career without Coughlin guiding his every move.

“I guess I’m always optimistic, always feel good about our squad,’’ Manning said recently. “I don’t remember feeling differently in the years that we made the playoffs, the years we won the Super Bowl, thinking, ‘Oh, I definitely think this is a Super Bowl team.’ You never know how it’s all going to play out.

“You don’t know what the injury situation is going to be and how you’ll respond in critical situations in games. That’s something, it’s hard to know until you’re in those fourth quarters. Does the level of play rise or does it go get uptight or nervous? Hopefully we have guys who know how to make the plays and rise to the occasion.’’